Thursday, February 21, 2008

Absinthe: The revival of "Cool"

Absinthe is a distilled, highly alcoholic (45%-75% ABV), anise-flavored spirit derived from herbs, including the flowers and leaves of the medicinal plant Artemisia absinthium, also called “wormwood.” Absinthe is typically of a natural green color but is also produced in both clear and artificially colored styles. It is often called “the Green Fairy.”

Numerous artists and writers living in France during the late 19th and early 20th centuries were noted absinthe drinkers and featured absinthe in their works. These include Vincent van Gogh, Édouard Manet, Amedeo Modigliani, Arthur Rimbaud, Guy de Maupassant, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and Paul Verlaine. Later authors and artists would draw from this cultural well including Pablo Picasso, August Strindberg, Oscar Wilde and Ernest Hemingway. Aleister Crowley was also noted for his habitual Absinthe use.(Source: Wikipedia)

The Mystique and illicit qualities of Absinthe from theater, movies and television, often applying dramatic license to depict the drink as everything from aphrodisiac to poison.

This drink is VERY rare in the United States, and is mainly consumed in elite social circles. It is becoming popular again in Europe and the United States will most likely catch up with this re-popularity of this historical drink.

Here is one of the most popular Absinthe brands in the U.S. and England:

2 comments:

Wormwood is well named as it worms it's way into the brain. Most of the names in your 19th. century list ended up slightly screwy after drinking this stuff. No wonder it's been banned by some countries. Tastes good though!!